Xantrex Technologies 852-2071 Xpower AC/DC Powerpack Solar With 400 Watt Inverter, Two AC Outlets, USB Port, And Digital Display

by Xantrex

Product Features

• Runs 120-volt AC or 12-volt DC products anywhere
• Built-in 400-watt inverter
• Two 120-volt AC outlets, one 12-volt DC socket and one USB port
• Three-digit display for easy battery status monitoring
• AC charger included so you can charge from a standard wall outlet

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 17.5 x 13.5 x 9.5 inches ; 22.5 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 18 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B000SECKO2
• California residents: Click here for Proposition 65 warning.
• Item model number: 852-2071
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #26,828 in Patio, Lawn & Garden (See Top 100 in Patio, Lawn & Garden)
  • #9 in Automotive > Tools & Equipment > Jump Starters, Battery Chargers & Portable Power > Power Packs
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Operate your favorite gadgets anywhere with the Xantrex XPower Powerpack Solar. This portable solar device provides 400 watts of household power to run appliances and electronics. The Powerpack Solar's solar panel continuously captures, stores, and converts the sun's energy and extends the runtime of many portable devices. Two AC outlets, a DC socket, and a USB port give you plenty of options for simultaneously operating anything from laptops to cell phones to small TVs.

The Xantrex XPower Powerpack Solar At a Glance: 400 watts of power Quiet, "green" alternative to a generator Detachable 5-watt solar panel Extends device runtime by up to 25 percent 2 AC outlets, 1 DC outlet, and 1 USB port can work simultaneously

The Powerpack lets you run devices from anywhere and extends runtimes up to 25 percent. View larger.

Quieter and more compact than a generator, this powerful tool adds fun and comfort to your travels. View larger.

Portable Power for All Your Electronics
A perfect companion for road trips, vacations, and camping, the Powerpack Solar can simultaneously run multiple devices thanks to its two 120-volt AC outlets, single 12-volt DC outlet, and USB port. The powerful built-in 400-watt inverter and sealed, spill-free 10-amp/hour AGM battery can power anything from a CD player to a 13-inch TV to a laptop to an air compressor. At the same time, the built-in USB port makes it easy to charge digital music players, cell phones, computer peripherals, and more.

A handy three-digit display helps you keep tabs on your Powerpack Solar's battery power. For those times when you want to conserve your battery, an AC charger is included for charging from a standard wall outlet, and a DC charger is included for charging from a vehicle or RV battery.

For added convenience, the Powerpack Solar runs quietly, making it a great alternative to a generator. Non-slip rubber surrounds protect the Powerpack Solar from bumps and scuffs, and two built-in lamps help you set up the unit when the lights go out or when you're getting cozy in a tent.

Clean, Green Renewable Solar Power
The XPower Powerpack Solar is the first power pack to incorporate solar power in a compact, portable power source. It's completely self renewing, which means the five-watt solar panel captures, stores, and converts the sun's energy, replenishes the XPower Powerpack Solar's battery, and extends the runtime of many devices by up to 25 percent. An added bonus, the solar panel is detachable, so you can charge the battery and leave the panel in a safe place when you go to the beach or tackle the trail.

The XPower Powerpack Solar is covered by a six-month warranty. It measures 15.0 x 4.5 x 10.25 inches (LxWxH) and weighs 12.3 pounds.

About Xantrex
Xantrex Technology Inc. (xantrex.com), a subsidiary of Schneider Electric, is a world leader in the development, manufacturing and marketing of advanced power electronic products and systems for the renewable and mobile power markets. The company's products convert and control raw electrical power from any central, distributed, renewable, or backup power source into high-quality power required by electronic equipment and the electricity grid. Xantrex is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, with facilities in the United States, Germany and Spain, and a joint venture in China.

What's in the Box
Rechargeable solar-powered battery pack, AC charger, and DC charger.

Use it while camping, at the beach, or even from your own backyard to operate anything from laptops to cell phones. The AC outlets, DC socket, and USB port can work simultaneously.

Product Description

The XPower Powerpack Solar is the first rechargeable power pack that incorporates solar energy in a compact, portable power source. The detachable 5 Watt solar panel has the ability to recharge the 10Ah battery and extend the run time by up to 25%. Operate devices like a blender or cooler simultaneously using two 120V AC outlets, one 12V DC socket and one USB port. Provides 400 Watts of convenient, portable household power. Watts: 400, Compatible With: Mobile Devices and Small Household Products, LED Indicators: Yes, Battery Type: 10ah AGM, Built in Inverter: Yes, AC Outlets (qty.): 2, USB Ports (qty.): 1, DC Outlets (qty.): 1, Multiple Adaptors: Yes, Adaptors Included (qty.): 2, Includes Solar Charger: Yes, Handle Included: Yes, Dimensions L x W x H (in.): 15 x 4 x 10

See all Product Description

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

277 of 282 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Useful, But Does Not Perform Up To Specifications, October 2, 2007

By 

Scott "tech wiz" (Philadelphia, PA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Xantrex Technologies 852-2071 Xpower AC/DC Powerpack Solar With 400 Watt Inverter, Two AC Outlets, USB Port, And Digital Display (Lawn & Patio)

If the Xantrex Xpower Powerpack Solar lived up to its specifications, I would rate it 5 stars and consider it well worth the money. That's why I bought it in the first place. Unfortunately, its performance falls short of the manufacturer's claims.

The overall design of the product is very nice. I had considered building something similar based on a how-to article in Popular Science, but the Powerpack is so nicely packaged for only a couple dollars more, I chose to buy it.

The Powerpack disappoints in the amount of energy stored in its battery that is available to power other electronic devices. The battery is specified as 12 volts and 10 amp-hours. As such, I was expecting to get as much as 120 watt-hours from it, but I barely get half that.

As a test, I fully charged the battery using the included AC adapter. By "fully", I mean the unit claimed to be charged. I then ran the built-in LED lights. The manual claims they should run for 48 hours. They ran 27.5 hours for me.

I assumed this performance reflected a bad unit and exchanged it. The new unit performs similarly. Either the battery in the unit performs poorly, or the electronics to monitor and control the battery state-of-charge are weak.

As another example of the poor performance, I charged the unit completely (again based on its built-in indicator that charging is done). It indicated 100 percent charge when I turned on the AC or DC output, but as soon as I plugged in any load, it almost immediately dropped to 70 or even 60 percent. Soon after the unit's indicator dropped to 40 percent, the unit shut itself down.

So, on the one hand, this is a nice unit to carry around, and it does slowly-but-surely charge the internal battery using the included 5 watt solar panel. It does a fine job charging cell phones and iPods, and a barely acceptable job charging a notebook computer. Compared to its specifications, and for that matter my previous experience with the Xantrex Powerpack Mobile Mini, however, the product is a disappointment.

188 of 190 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Looks better than it works, May 19, 2008

By 

J. Gabrielli (Baltimore, MD) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Xantrex Technologies 852-2071 Xpower AC/DC Powerpack Solar With 400 Watt Inverter, Two AC Outlets, USB Port, And Digital Display (Lawn & Patio)

The product information should include these crucial tidbids, which you only find out AFTER buying (by reading the detailed owner's manual): 1) you cannot use it while you are charging it, and 2)if you want to charge it using the sun, it takes 45 HOURS (YES -- that's HOURS). I used it at an outdoor festival to power a laptop, and -- even thought the manual estimated it would last for up to 4 hours, it pooped out after 1.5 hours. After that, I unplugged and charged it in the sun for a while. It got a lot of interest from people at the festival, who thought it was cool. I think it's cool too. I just wish it worked better.

53 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Design nightmare, May 21, 2009

By 

Snorkboy (Ottawa, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Xantrex Technologies 852-2071 Xpower AC/DC Powerpack Solar With 400 Watt Inverter, Two AC Outlets, USB Port, And Digital Display (Lawn & Patio)

Many Cons
- Battery not "user replaceable" (User manual recommends throwing the whole powerpack out when the battery can no longer take a charge)
- If you do take the unit apart to replace the battery, it is an uncommon type not available at battery specialists.
- Solar panel is too small to adequately charge the unit. Useful only as a top-up charger.
- My unit has locked up twice, where the buttons and display do not work and you need to take it apart to disconnect then reconnect the battery to reboot the internal microcontroller.
- Very difficult to take apart (to reboot the unit or change the battery).
- AC power adapter puts out too much voltage, causing the unit to complain about an overvoltage situation when it is left plugged in when fully charged.
- Loses its charge quickly when not plugged in.
- LED lights on both sides of the unit are wired to come on at the same time. No switch to disconnect one bank to double the runtime as a light source.

As a warning, if you do have one, do not leave it off its charger for longer than about 1 month or you can damage the battery.